Comments for The essence of boredom

The essence of boredom

2008-08-27T21:52:34Z

Watching the roll-call vote. I was never one for ceremony. Maybe I'm missing something...

UPDATE: But dude from New Mexico should be announcing for boxing. He rocked.

Comment from Big Lake on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T22:17:08Z

Word. The lady calling out the roll is mildly terrifying.

Comment from deictic on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T22:23:44Z

I must be warped because I like the roll call.

Comment from Pronk on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T22:25:05Z

You're not missing anything. This is excruciating.

Comment from JRG on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T22:33:09Z

I like it. I get a kick out of hearing the states call out what they think is cool about themselves.

Comment from Lady Wesley on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T22:50:07Z

It's just tradition, that's all. A holdover from the days when the result was not foreordained. Seems harmless enough to me.

And just now, something significant did in fact happen. Hillary announced that all of New York's votes were cast for Barack. And now, she's moving to select him by acclamation.

Once upon a time, these conventions actually meant something and the outcome of a roll call vote was unknown. That was sort of exciting. Perhaps it will be again some day.

"Love Train!"

Comment from TInare on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T23:14:34Z

I'm also a nerd who likes the roll call and I was actually a little disappointed that it wasn't finished. I love how each state tries to out-introduce the other states. It doesn't get any better than "Idaho, where the sun first touches the mountains." Like, what the crap does that mean??? (I think it was Idaho. Could be Iowa. I confuse the two. They're both "I" states out west somewhere. I really suck at geography...)

Comment from Peter on 2008-08-27

2008-08-27T23:23:22Z

I think the Guam lady tried to cast a vote for someone weird from Guam. Then on the repeat didn't. On the repeat she cast 7 votes, though Guam has 8. Dunno what happened there.

Comment from Mike on 2008-08-27

2008-08-28T00:39:00Z

Yeah, it's just the only official business of the entire four-day gathering. Weird that the nominee is not present in my opinion.

Comment from Adam on 2008-08-27

2008-08-28T00:51:32Z

I know! The NM guy was a riot - the dramatic pause after the head-fake "We cast our votes for..."

At least somebody knew how to have a little fun with it!

Comment from Ben on 2008-08-27

2008-08-28T01:38:28Z

Seriously, that guy was amazing. He's my personal favorite speaker of the convention (not the most important, just the most entertaining).

Comment from Breukelyne on 2008-08-27

2008-08-28T03:20:59Z

Um, I also like the roll call and the state pride thing. The costumes!

/nerd moment

I loved the New Mexico guy too.

Comment from JT (Chicago) on 2008-08-28

2008-08-28T07:48:24Z

Yep, I've always liked the roll call with the wierd facts about the states, or when they try to get national exposure for "the next County Dogcatcher from our great state", or when you see all the pols trying to cram into the picture.

It's a bit of tacky political tradition that has somehow survived after becoming meaningless over the years.

Unless ... McCain goes back to his plan (from 2000) of nominating three VPs and letting the convention decide. Now that would be fun to watch.

"Love Train"? I would rather they played "People Get Ready"

Comment from Jaybird on 2008-08-28

2008-08-28T14:10:38Z

If I were writing a short story about a Democratic Convention and I had everyone dancing to Love Train at the end of the nomination process, people would tell me that it was way too over the top and I should come up with something more believable.